Thread box tool protector



Feb. 14, 1961 F. L. LE Bus, SR 2,971,669

THREAD BOX TOOL PROTECTOR Filed July 7, 1958 F HQVVENTOR. F L. LeBus 5/1 ATTORNEY 4 f United States Patent THREAD BOX TOOL PROTECTOR Franklin L. Le Bus, Sr., Longview, Tern, assignmto Le Bus Royalty Company, Longview, Ten, a partnerp Filed July 7, 1958, Ser. No. 746,766

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-23) This invention relates to improvements in thread protectors, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a thread protector which is designed and constructed as a tool box for housing auxiliary tools and equipment therein.

Many tubular members having internal threads or female threaded portions therein, such as pipe couplings, oil well fishing tools, or the like, are shipped or transported through great distances with the threaded portion thereof open or unprotected. The threads often become clogged with foreign particles or otherwise damaged and distorted during transit. In addition, the threaded tubular members, particularly tubular members utilized in oil well drilling, frequently require special tools and equip ment, such as socket wrenches, specially threaded inserts, or the like, for the assembly thereof upon arrival at the destination or site of utilization. These tools are usually boxed or packaged separately from the tubular member itself, and are often misplaced or lost. Since the tools are usually specially made or tested for utilization with the tubular member, and are not standard items of purchase, it will be apparent that the loss of such equipment is a great disadvantage.

The present invention contemplates a novel tool box thread protector adapted to be inserted within the internal or female threaded portion of a tubular member in order to protect the threads from damage during transit, or other periods of non-use. The housing of the novel thread protector is hollow in order to receive a number of special tools which have been especially designed for utilization with the tubular threaded member being protected by the thread box tool protector. The novel thread protector thus performs a dual function in that the internal threads are protected from undesirable damage and the special tools are maintained with the tubular member for substantially precluding accidental loss thereof. It will be apparent that the dual function of the novel thread protector provides a great economy in eliminating the necessity of a separate packaging of the special tools and equipment, as well as protecting the internal threads against damage.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a thread protector for insertion within an internal threaded member in order to protect the threads from undue damage during periods of non-use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a thread protector for an internal threaded portion wherein special tools and equipment may be housed for substantially eliminating accidental loss thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel thread protector which is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

2,971,669 Patented Feb. 14, 1961 In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a thread protector embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 indicates a female box end of a tubular member, such as a pipe coupling, oil well fishing tool member, or the like, having an internal threaded portion 12 extending longitudinally therein. The threaded portion 12 is normally open in transit, and may be any type of thread, such as acme threads, pipe threads, or the like. A thread protector, generally indicated at 14 is adapted for threaded insertion within the threaded portion 12 for protection thereof, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The thread protector 14 comprises a threaded member 16 having suitable external threads 18 thereon complementary to the internal threads 12, and adapted for threaded connection therewith. The member 16 is hollow, as clearly shown in the drawings, and is provided with an outwardly extending circumferential shoulder 20 oppositely disposed with respect to the threads 18. A substantially cylindrical housing 22 is welded, or the like, to the shoulder 20 and extends longitudinally upward from the threaded member 16, as viewed in the drawings. A cap or cover member 24 is removably secured to the upper end 26 of the housing 22 in any suitable manner, such as a screw 28, or the like. In this manner, a closed chamber 30 is provided within the cylinder 22 and the threaded member 16.

The chamber 30 may be utilized for retaining special auxiliary tools and equipment, such as extra screw members 32, a plurality of packing ring members 34, a spanner wrench 36, a hollow head set screw wrench 38, or any other desired special tools normally required for the assembly or operation of the tubular member 10. Thus, the thread protector 14 may be utilized for protection of the threads 12, as well as for storage of the special tools and equipment normally utilized in conjunction with the tubular member 10.

In operation, the externally threaded member 16 may be easily inserted and threaded into the internally threaded portion 12 in order to protect the female threads from distortion or other damage during other periods of nonuse of the member 10. The cover 24 may be quickly removed from the housing 22 by removal of the screw 26 in any well known manner (not shown) in order to permit the disposition of the tools 32, 34, 36 and 38 in the chamber 30 for storage therein. The cover 24 may be secured in place on the housing 22 by the screws 26 for retaining the tools in the chamber 30, thereby precluding accidental loss thereof. Thus, the thread protector 14 serves a dual function in that the female threads 12 are protected from undesirable damage, and the special tools are carried with the tubular member 10 itself in order to substantially preclude misplacing thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel thread box tool protector having a dual function. The protection of the threads simultaneous with the storage of the special tools and equipment provides an economy in maintenance of the member 10, and assures that the tools and equipment necessary for the assembly and operation thereof will be readily available with the tubular member.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In combination with an internally threaded tubular Ix 5,9713 v member utilized in oil well drilling, a tool box thread v References Cited in the file of this patent. protector comprising a hollow externally threaded por- UNITED STATES PATENTS- tion complementary to the internal threads, an outwardly extending circumferential shoulder provided'on the ex- 64717925 Kirby P 17, 1900 ternally threaded portion, a cylindrical housing rigidly 5 2,055,646 Bosley Sept-'29, 1936 secured to the shoulder and extending longitudinally 2,548,168 Luce -l-- 10,1951 from. the externally threaded portion providing a chamber within the housing and externally threaded portion I FOREIGN PATENTS for receiving tools therein, and a removable: cover pro- 3 9, 27 Italy June 30, 1934 vided for the housing. 10 5167 7 Germany Jan. 27, 1931 

